Gonzalez turns down interview for Cubs' managerial opening
The chance of the Cubs staying in house for a manager in 2011 may have gotten a little better Tuesday.
Not only are the Cubs winning with Mike Quade at the helm, but a report surfaced Tuesday that former Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez has turned down a chance to interview with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.
Quade, who has been managing the Cubs since Lou Piniella resigned last month, ran his record to 13-7 Tuesday night as the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 at Busch Stadium.
AOL Fanhouse wrote the Gonzalez story and speculated he would be in line to manage the Atlanta Braves after Bobby Cox retires at the end of this season.
The Cubs have talked with Ryne Sandberg, their manager at Class AAA Iowa and will do so again. Quade is a candidate to keep the job. Hendry also is likely to interview former Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin. Former Indians manager Eric Wedge already has interviewed.
In Tuesday's game, Randy Wells pitched 8 strong innings and also had a pair of RBI singles.
Darwin Barney and Wells each had run-scoring singles in the second against Adam Wainwright (18-11). Xavier Nady had the first of his 3 RBI with a single in the third, and the Cubs added 2 in the fourth. Wells gave up 5 hits and 1 run as he improved to 7-13.
2011 schedule out: The Cubs will make their first regular-season visit to Fenway Park next May, and the New York Yankees will return to Wrigley Field in June.
Major League Baseball released the 2011 schedule to team websites, and the Cubs will meet the two marquee teams from the American League East in interleague play.
The Cubs will open the season April 1 against the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs-Red Sox series is set for Friday, May 20-Sunday, May 22 at Fenway. The two teams met at Wrigley Field in 2005. The Yankees, who played a memorable series with the Cubs in 2003 at Wrigley, return June 17-19.
The Cubs play the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field June 20-22. The Sox play at Wrigley July 1-3. The complete schedule is posted at cubs.com.
Gorzelanny update: Lefty Tom Gorzelanny will throw a simulated game Friday at Florida, and he's expected to rejoin the rotation next week at Wrigley Field. Gorzelanny suffered a small fracture of his left pinkie on Sept. 1, when he was hit by a line drive.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bruce Miles' game tracker</p>
<p class="News">Cubs 7, Cardinals 2</p>
<p class="News"><b>All's Wells:</b> Cubs starter Randy Wells enjoyed his best outing of the season. He worked 8 innings giving up 5 hits and 1 run. Wells threw 101 pitches, 71 strikes. He had a 5-pitch inning in the first and threw just 6 in the seventh.</p>
<p class="News"><b>The kid can play:</b> Darwin Barney, subbing at shortstop for Starlin Castro, had an RBI single in the second, a double in the fourth and another single in the eighth. </p>
<p class="News"><b>X marks the spot:</b> Xavier Nady had a 3-RBI night, going 3-for-5, all singles. His 2-run single in the ninth added some insurance.</p>